Can I claim compensation from delivery apps if I wait too long at a slow restaurant?

Most major delivery apps do not pay compensation to drivers who get stuck waiting for food at a slow restaurant. You are classed as self-employed, so time spent waiting inside a venue is generally treated as an unpayable part of the job.

How different apps handle long waits

Each platform has its own approach when an order is not ready on arrival. None of them offer an hourly rate for sitting on a plastic chair while the kitchen falls behind.

• Deliveroo does not pay wait time for standard orders in most zones, though certain trial areas or specific courier contracts have tested small delay supplements in the past.
• Uber Eats relies on automated dispatch to match drivers closer to the ready time, but offers no direct payout if the kitchen runs late.
• Just Eat orders sometimes include minor adjustments if you experience severe delays, but you cannot rely on this to top up your hourly earnings.

What you can do when a restaurant is too slow

Standing around costs you money because you miss out on other jobs. You have a few practical choices when faced with a massive queue.

1. Check the app to see if you can unassign or cancel the order without harming your completion rate or profile metrics.
2. Use the help menu in the app to report that the food is still being prepared so the system logs the delay.
3. Walk away and drop the order if the wait exceeds your personal threshold for profitability.